Fire-extinguiseier and the like



G. 8. HAINES.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND THE LIKE. APPLICATIION FILED FEB. a. 1919.

1,335,682. Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

2 S'HEETS-SHEET l.

G. B. HAINES.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8. I9I9.

'iTTjE-lfi srarns PATENT GEORGE B. 'HAINES, OF GEICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FIBE-EXTINGUISHEE AND THE LIKE.

Application filed February 8, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Grnoncn B. Harries, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Extinguishers and the like, of which the following is a specificatioa.

The present invention has to do with improvements in the extinguishers and the like of that type in which a suitable liquid or chemical carried in a tank or other container may be forcibly expelled through a nozzle so as to direct the same into the fire. Apparatus of this type operate generally on the principle of the creation of a sufficient hydrostatic pressure within the tank to exp el the contents thereof with suificient violence to cause said contents to carry over to the desired point. One method of generating this hydrostatic pressure consists in the introduction of suitable chemicals into the body of the liquid, which chemicals, by re-action either among themselves or with the liquid. contained in the tank, will generate gases which will give the desired hydrostatic pressure.

When the hydrostatic pressure is to be generated by a chemical re-action, it is customary to carry one of the chemicals in a glass or other flask or bottle which may be broken at the will of the operator to permit its contents to reach the other ingredients with which the reaction is to occur. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a greatly improved container and operating mechanism for the same and one which will be of great durability and permanence. Also in this connection to provide a construction which will be capable of standing a very heavy pressure such as will be generated. and such as is desired in order to secure the proper discharge of the contents.

Other objects and uses of the invention will appear from a detailed description of the same which consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal cross section through the central portion of an appliance embodying the features of the present invention, the same being equipped for Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 3%), 1Z-92h Serial No. 275,694.

securing the hydrostatic pressure by chemical ire-action;

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1, with the exception that it is taken at right angles thereto;

' Fig. 3 shows a vertical longitudinal section through the bottom head and the plunger and flask or bottle of the constructi on shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the same being on. enlarged scale as compared to said figures; y

Fig. 4: shows an enlarged longitudinal fragmentary section of the upper portion of the tank, having the discharge nozzle applied thereto;

, Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. l, with the exception that a valve has been inserted between the injector tube and nozzle for the purpose of controlling the discharge when air pressure is to be 11sec;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the valve turned into position for charging by-compressed air; and 1 Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view correspond ing to Fig. 6, with the exception that the valve has been turned into position for discharging purposes. 1

Considering first the general construction shown in Figs. 1 and'iZ, the same includes a longitudinal cylindrical tank 12. This tank comprises a circular cylindrical body portion 13, and upper and lower heads 14 and 15, respectively. These upper and lower heads are spherical in form, so that they will most easily and perfectly resist the large pressures generated or used within the tank.

The heads 14 and 15 may be attached to the cylindrical body portion in any suitable manner, but the construction illustrated is very well adapted for resisting large pressures and also for permanence of construction. In. this construction which is shown in detail in Fig. 3, the head is provided with an outwardly turned flange 16 which seats just inside of the end portion 17 of the cylindrical tank. This end portion is then folded over to provide the lap 18, thereby gripping the flange 16 solidly, making a gas and air tight construction, and also one which is able to resist abnormal internal pressures. In order to prevent a possible longitudinal. displacement of the head inwardly, I provide an inwardly extending bead 19 on the end portion of the cylindrical body, the same being immediately adja cent to the position occupied by the head and making it impossible for said head to be displaced inwardly.

It will be readily appreciated that when the cylindrical body portion and heads are made of copper or other highly malleable or ductile material. an extremely tight and permanent connection can be established by constructions such as that u st described. In the constructions illustrated, this type of attachment is shown for both the upper and lower heads 1-1- and 15.

Ordinarily the apparatus is suspended in a vertical position such as that illustrated in Figs. 1. and 2. For this purpose I have shown an eye 20 connected to the cylindrical body portion by a tab 21 which may be riveted thereto in the well understood manner. A handle 22 may be fastened to the body portion, preferably in its center, so that when the appliance is to be used. it 1. be readily manipulated by graspine' handle, lifting the appliance away hook on which the eye has been s1. J d. and then directing" the discharge nozzle in the proper direction with one hand. \Vhen supported by the eye 20 in this natural man nor, the liquid will ordinarily stand at a level such that shown by the lines 23 inthc several figures. A nozzle is provided a t the upper end of the tank generally in the top head 14: through which the material is discharged. This nozzle 24 is shown in detail section in Figs. t and 5. and in elevation in Figs. land 2. It is plOVlClQd with a tapered bore terminating in a discharge-orifice 26. Itslower end is internally th rit-aded. so that it can be readily attached to the head or to the pipe passing); therethrougzh.

I A fit in is provided to; (lohi'eri the liquid trough the upper head 14. This v fitting comprises a stem portion 28 which exte ds downwardly" on the interior of the tank. a n pple l) on 29 wl'ii'ch extends outwardly from the head and a.- tiang'c- Pu) which lies against the inner tace ot the head 14. A nut 31 is threaded down over the nipple 29 so as to clamp the head l i ily between the nut and the flange 30. and thus secure an extremely tiph connection.

'Ord'inarily the adjacent surfaces of the flange 30 and the nut31 will be tinned or otherwise coated with soldering material bettore'they are secured into place on the 4 per head Atter the nut has clamped solid'lv into posi ion o as to the head in 'cry firm manner. th may be heated by a torch or otherwise thereupon the parts will be oldered to and provide a practically integral consgruzytion. It nece v ry add ional solder may be introduced" around the peripheries the parts. l

An injector tube extends down from they stem portion 28 to a point z-td acent to the bottom of the tank-that is, adjacent to the bottom head This tube preferably is 011' tapered cross section, as will be appreciated from a comparison of Figs. 1 and 2, its lower end 3i being very much larger in cross section than its upper end where it passes into the stem 28. Inasmuch as the liquid enters the lower end which is oi; large cross section, the velocity of said liquidwill be increased as'it rises through the tube until, when it reaches the upper end, it will have a considerable portion of its static or pressure energy converted into dynamic or velocity energy preparatory to its discharge. Also the friction will be accordingly reduc'ed. A strap 3st serves a convenient support for holding the lower end 33 firmly against the lower portion of the tank. th dinarily the injector tube will be brazed to the stem 28 of the fitting 9,7. so that when the fitting is subsequently heated or soldered, the tube will not separate from the stem 28.

When the appliance is to be. used for the {.Z'enerati'on ot" the hydrostatic pressure by chemical reaction, meansmust be provided tor carrying the proper cheniical within the tank and tor discharging" the sameinto the contents of the tank at the proper time. I will now describe such an arrange The same includes a peculiarly shaped glass sealed acid bottle 35 Within which carried one oi" the chemical constitue .ele-i-c"-' for bringing about the re-action'deiaiired the generation of the The bottom head 15 is provided with a central n through which extends a fitting Si 10 =1 in detail in Fig; 3. Said fitting includes a stem 37Qwhich extends to the interior of the tank, a. stem 38 which extends to the ex;

1! will result in a soldering or brazing;

action, thereby uniting". the tilting 36 with the head 15 in, a substantially integral HERD ner.

When the chemical bottle 35 is-to be used a basket 41 may be set up through the fitting 36 to the interior of the tank, said basket having" its upper .end 4-2 at a suiiicient distance within the tank to properly accommodate the size of the bottle 35' which has been selected. This basket is provided with a large number of perforations through which the" chemical from the-bottle may be discharged into the liquid; contents of the rent.

llf)

tank. The lower end of the basket ll is outwardly flanged as at 44, said flange being adapted to seat directly against the stem 38 of the fitting 36 or a gasket 4:5 illustrated in l 3 may be set between the parts. A cap is adapted to thread over the stem 38 and close the lower end or the same. This cap is provided on its upper or inner face with a circular groove d7 shown in detail in Fig. 8, which thread is pro-vided by a pair of con centric lips d8 and 4:9 on the upper face of the cap. A washer 50 set between the cap and the flange 44: of the basket 41 will be *ery solidly gripped and held in a gas-tight manner by the cap on account of the pres ence of this circular groove l? and the lips l8 and 19. In fact with this thread or arrangcinent, the cap will remain gas-tight for many years in, succession. A. pair of horns 51 and on the cap d6 serves as a convenient means for tightening up the same, while adding materially to the appearance of the apparatus, making it unnecessary to use wrenches, etc.

When the hydrostatic pressure is to be generated by chemical reaction means must be provided for breaking the bottle when the operator so desires. Such means comprises a plunger 53 on which the bottle 35 rests, so that upon forcing said plunger upwardly the bottle will be crushed between the plunger and the upper end d2 of the basket. The

plunger is mounted upon the upper end of a rod which extends down through a star"- box in the cap and has a button or handle 56 on its lower end. A stufiing box nut 57 is provided for tightening up the stuiling box in order to make it gas and liquid tight.

A s ring 58 is located between the upper end of the bottle 35 and the upper end 42 of the basket, which spring exerts sufiicient pressure on the bottle at all times to hold it solidly in position without breaking it, thereby preventing any rattling or other undesired movement.

VVhen the appliance is to be used, it is re moved From the hook and the button 56 is driven forcibly against the floor or any other suitable object, whereupon the bottle will be broken and the hydrostatic pressure generated and the discharge will commence at once.

ld hen the apparatus is to be used with air pressure, it is unnecessary to provide for the bottle 35 or the plunger 53 by which it is broken. It is in like manner unnecessary to provide for the basket 41 or the spring 58.

Since the air pressure will exist within the application before it used and probably afterward, it is necessary to provide some form of valve for controlling the discharge. lhis valve is shown by the fitting 63 in Figs. 5, 6, and 7. Said fitting is provided with a flange 6d which seats down overthe nipple 29 previously described, and is pro vided with a nipple 65 onto which the nozzle may be threaded. The valve fitting 63 is rovided with a longitudinal bore 66 and with a nipple 67 extending at right angles thereto and provided with a bore 68. An air hose from an air supply pipe tank or pump may be threaded onto the nipple 67 when the tank is to be charged wlth air. A. plug valve 69 having the operating handle 70 is rotatably mounted in the fitting 63, said plug valve having a transverse bore 71 and a passage at right angles thereto 72.

When the tank is to be charged with air, the plug valve is turned into the position shown in Fig. 6, and when the tank has been charged, the valve may be turned into the position shown in Fig. 5, so as to shut 0d the interior of the tank from both the nipple 67 and nozzle 24-. When the contents of the tank are to be discharged, the valve is turned into the position oi? Fig. 7, whereupon a straight line passage is provided through the fitting 63. I have also provided a small valve 72 working in the nipple 67, and serving to prevent any back flow of air through said nipple.

It will be observed that when this apparatus is being used without any valve 63, as

will be the case when it is being operated chemically, the only area ofits liquid contents exposed -to the atmosphere will be the small area within the upper portion of the tube Consequently, the contents of the body of the appliance cannot deteriorate by exposure to the air.

In the construction of the apparatus, the fitting 27 will ordinarily be attached to the upper head 14, after which said head will be attached to the upper end of the tank body. After this the fitting 36 may be attached to the lower head 15, which head may thereupon be attached to the lower end of the tank body, and thus making it possible to bring about the construction of the device in the most natural and easy manner.

It is to be noted that the nipple 29 of the upper fitting 27 is bent or deflected with respect to the axis of the container, so that the nozzle 2-l is directed outwardly away from the axis of the container. Consequently, when the handle 22 is grasped in the natural manner for operation of the appliance, the nozzle is directed more or less in a downward direction, and, therefore, the contents cai'i be easily directed toward the point of condagration. It is also to be noted that since the bore 25 of the nozzle extends axially oi the nozzle, is immaterial just how far the nozzle is threaded down onto the nipple 29 because the bore of the nozzle will always lie in a direction to deliver the liquid contents straight out from the appliance. Such an arrangement is to be distinguished from one in which the bore of the nozzle does not extend directly in an axial direction, because in such case is is necessary to thread the nozzle down to a certain point in order to insure that the bore, of the nozzle shall point in the proper direction.

It is also to be noted that as far as the features of construction in reference to the bottom head 15 and the fitting therein are concerned, the chamber of the container does not need to be of cylindrical form.

I claim:

1. The combination of a cylindrical casing, an upper head on the same, a fitting for said upper head comprising an integral stein on the inside of the casing, a threaded nipple extending through the head close to the side of the casing, a flange on the stem in engagement with the inside face of the head, a. nut threaded on to the nipple and in engagement with the outside face of the head, a discharge nozzle threaded on to the nipple, a tubular member having its upper end connected to the stem aforesaid and its lower end relatively broad adjacent to the lower end of the casing and in close proxiIn-ity to the side thereof, and a closure for the lower end of the casing, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a cylindrical casing, a dish-shaped head on the upper end of the same, a fitting for said upper head comprising an integral stem on the inside of the casing and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the inner surface of the casing, a'nipple extending through the head in a direction perpendicular to the head at that point, a flange on the stem and in engagement with the inner surface of the head, a locking device on the nipple and in engagement with the outer surface of the head, a discharge nozzle in conjunction with the nipple a tubular member having its upper end connected to the stem and its lower end close to the lower end of the casing, the lower end of said tubular member being elliptical in cross section and having its broader surface lying close to the inner surface of the casing, and a closure for the lower end of the casing, substantially as described.

' GEORGE E. HAINES. 

